Rep. McGowan withdraws due to health issues

YORK, Maine — Citing increasing concerns about his health, state Rep. Paul McGowan, D-York, has decided to bow out of the race to run for another term this fall.

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By Deborah McDermott

seacoastonline.com

By Deborah McDermott

Posted Jul. 16, 2014 at 2:00 AM

By Deborah McDermott
Posted Jul. 16, 2014 at 2:00 AM

» Social News

YORK, Maine — Citing increasing concerns about his health, state Rep. Paul McGowan, D-York, has decided to bow out of the race to run for another term this fall.

McGowan sent a letter to the Maine Secretary of State's office on Monday withdrawing his name from consideration for a District 3 seat.

"I've had some medical challenges for a while now, and over the past six to eight weeks, there have been some setbacks," McGowan said.

He said while blood tests are still being conducted to determine the precise nature of his ailments, he has had increasing mobility problems. He now walks with a cane and has difficulty driving.

"I am really sorry I have had to make this decision. It's been a real struggle in my mind," he said. "But there's some uncertainty about what this (medical condition) is, and I wondered about whether I can do the job."

McGowan had been the Democratic candidate in District 3, a new district that includes most of York. Cape Neddick, where McGowan lives, was added after the state was redistricted last year.

The Republican candidate for District 3 is Arthur Kyricos.

The York Democratic Town Committee is holding a special caucus to nominate a new candidate at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 23, at the Seacoast Democratic office in Meadowbrook Plaza. The state mandates that the names of replacement candidates must be submitted by July 28, according to Deputy Secretary of State Julie Flynn.

McGowan is among 56 candidates statewide who withdrew their names from consideration on the fall ballot by the July 14 deadline — and he's not the only one from York to do so.

State Rep. Windol Weaver, R-York, confirmed this week he would not be running against state Sen. Dawn Hill, D-York, in the fall.